Alys grinned sheepishly, turning back to Keme from waving at someone a few tables away and sliding the notepad back to herself two write once more. When she slides it back, it is mostly clearly written and Alys seems a little puzzled as she stares at it, Well, I was very much not ready for the matter-of-fact way that everyone here accepted my .. condition. There is even a person here, a non-kitsune, who can understand me; he does get a splitting headache though. Anyway, it was almost anticlimactic until I met and saw a few of the other students. And luckily for me, I seem to have missed out on the family trait; I am not stubborn at all.When Keme looks back up at her, she has such a perfectly innocent look on her face, such a proper posture and almost delicate motions, it seems she must sit up practicing that along with her homework...
"Someone once told me speaking of your ancestors draws their eye."
Their patriarch says with some mirth, as he approaches them.
"How are you both, this morning?"
"Good morning, Grandfather," Keme said, only rolling his eyes a little bit. "We're doing pretty well. We were just discussing the finer points of adjusting to living here at Avalon."
Serrin, meanwhile, is too far away to notice what all is transpiring with the champions and their patrons, but she can tell they are still having 'couple time'. However, the lake is really calming, and so she sits under a tree and takes out one of her tomes on magickal theory.
Tybalt shakes his head and pushes off a wall softly, landing at the pillar.
"Nah, these places never would've opened if they hadn't figured that out. You'll see what it's like."
Tybalt smiles a bit wryly, knowing Dave doesn't like waiting for surprises, but even with how much of a bad idea 'coffee in zero gravity' sounds, the one it could critically injury doesn't seem bothered.
Tybalt pulls up the menu and waves Dave over, scrolling through the menu and highlighting some items with order numbers in inhuman quantities. Most of what he seems to be going for a pastries or cakes of some kind of other, but the place has a full breakfast menu.
"Here, get as much of whatever you like. My treat."
He smiles to his friend and sets the menu back to the main one for Dave to find things he'd like.
Dave floats around, adjusting the random floating of zero gravity with his more purposeful flight before ordering some tea and creme brule to see how the ordering works "you sure you want to pay, I have money"
Ace grins at Ginni.
::"Funny, I was thinking that exact same thing, and oh look, it appears she might have a crush on him back.":: He says with a mental chuckle.
Dave floats around, adjusting the random floating of zero gravity with his more purposeful flight before ordering some tea and creme brule to see how the ordering works "you sure you want to pay, I have money"
Tybalt shakes his head as he hangs in mid air next to Dave.
"Nope. It's your birthday, and I'm taking care of it. Plus this system is actually pretty far away from the Agartha, and I dunno if you have the kind of currency they take here." He slides over to the console and taps next to a small port that matches the currency stick he showed earlier. "They don't take coins or even the weird paper stuff."Before long the pillar hums quietly and turns green before a section around the middle slides open to reveal the things they'd order. Everything somehow stays stuck to the center console without floating away. Even Dave's tea remains firmly in the cup, kept in by some sort of engineered surface tension. Cream and sugar are set next to it with small bottles to apply them directly into the tea as opposed to pouring in.
Tybalt floats by and snags an orange scone off his stack as he turns in lazy loops and airleron rolls. He munches it as he explains, "The tower has like half a foot of gravity to it to set stuff on and stay at it while you're ordering. And the cups have a thing around the top that keeps liquid in unless you're drinking from it," he explains between and occasionally through a mouthful of some sweet pastry or other.
Despite him demolishing a scone at every other pass of the tower, nothing seems to be generating any crumbs or other detritus.
Instead of shaking his hand she slaps a small pouch into it. "Count it out if you want. That's ten 500 credit chits in there. You want smaller change, you take it to the moneychangers." She turned her attention to Andromeda. "You buying anything or are you just disturbing my merchandise for no good reason?"
Andromeda shook her head. "No, this one isn't even good for parts. It's hollow."
The old woman harrumphed. "Damn grease monkeys. Of course it doesn't work! This is an antiques store, not a parts depot! Get out of here, you!"
Andromeda hurried out of the store, bursting into laughter once she was outside. "Well, that's a first. Nobody ever called me a grease monkey before."
Jasper nods to her and hustles out of the store, choosing to just hop over everything instead of dodging through this time.
The djinn descends into the shape of a monkey, making small noises and pretending to steer a car in a facsimile of Andromeda's clothes and hair. The gag only happens for a moment before he bounces back up to his regular form, chuckling."Well, she wasn't terribly friendly, but I've got something of a budget now. Where to?"
"Good morning, Grandfather," Keme said, only rolling his eyes a little bit. "We're doing pretty well. We were just discussing the finer points of adjusting to living here at Avalon."
"Yes, it is quite different from our normal ways, but, learning how other beings in the vastness of creation live can only enrich us."
He pauses, looking imperious for a second."Well, that should count toward my 'sanctimonious phrase' quota for today. Truthfully, I felt like heading out into the garden, and running around for a bit. I've not had much time for some old fashion fox time. 'Frolic' is such a juvenile word, but it fits the best. I came to see if you two would like to join in. I need to let loose for a bit. Perhaps some of your youthful exuberance will rub off, I could use the recharge."
As he says the last bit, he actually looks kind of haggard, well, for him.
"I don't know how many times. Several I guess? And probably a knife I think. I mean, it isn't like it's that hard to cut through skin. It's kinda delicate, you know? And I'm pretty sure that bleeding to death is the normal response to multiple stab wounds unless you have some kind of regeneration powers or something. Most humanoids are kinda fragile, when you really think about it. Good thing they have such strong wards here, huh," she added, trying to make the subject a little more cheerful, and kinda wishing she hadn't brought it up, but every time she started talking words just poured out faster than she could really think about them."Wait, hold on. You were bleeding to death after getting stabbed? How many times? What did he use?"
she raises an eyebrow.
"Ah. Right. Uh. So. It only takes a knife to hurt people around here. Good to know."
the starts cutting up her pancakes, eating them rather slowly. Not in a rush to do much of anything.
"People where you come from must be awfully tough," Lyzzie said, laughing as she shoveled more pancake into her mouth. She was already on the second plate.
"Whaff a dwagonfroo?" she asked, remembering something from before the conversation turned gruesome and serious.
Instead of shaking his hand she slaps a small pouch into it. "Count it out if you want. That's ten 500 credit chits in there. You want smaller change, you take it to the moneychangers." She turned her attention to Andromeda. "You buying anything or are you just disturbing my merchandise for no good reason?"
Andromeda shook her head. "No, this one isn't even good for parts. It's hollow."
The old woman harrumphed. "Damn grease monkeys. Of course it doesn't work! This is an antiques store, not a parts depot! Get out of here, you!"
Andromeda hurried out of the store, bursting into laughter once she was outside. "Well, that's a first. Nobody ever called me a grease monkey before."
Jasper nods to her and hustles out of the store, choosing to just hop over everything instead of dodging through this time.
The djinn descends into the shape of a monkey, making small noises and pretending to steer a car in a facsimile of Andromeda's clothes and hair. The gag only happens for a moment before he bounces back up to his regular form, chuckling.
"Well, she wasn't terribly friendly, but I've got something of a budget now. Where to?"
"Now, I guess we just wander for a bit and see what we find. And when we're tired of looking here we can catch a tram over to Goblintown," she said with a shrug. "Ooh, makeup," she said, drawn in by one of the nearby shops which had a girl doing makeup demonstrations outside to draw in customers. "I can definitely use some of that."
"Good morning, Grandfather," Keme said, only rolling his eyes a little bit. "We're doing pretty well. We were just discussing the finer points of adjusting to living here at Avalon.""Yes, it is quite different from our normal ways, but, learning how other beings in the vastness of creation live can only enrich us."
He pauses, looking imperious for a second.
"Well, that should count toward my 'sanctimonious phrase' quota for today. Truthfully, I felt like heading out into the garden, and running around for a bit. I've not had much time for some old fashion fox time. 'Frolic' is such a juvenile word, but it fits the best. I came to see if you two would like to join in. I need to let loose for a bit. Perhaps some of your youthful exuberance will rub off, I could use the recharge."
As he says the last bit, he actually looks kind of haggard, well, for him.
Keme's expression softened. "Yeah, sure, Gramps. I'd love to go out for a run."
"I don't know how many times. Several I guess? And probably a knife I think. I mean, it isn't like it's that hard to cut through skin. It's kinda delicate, you know? And I'm pretty sure that bleeding to death is the normal response to multiple stab wounds unless you have some kind of regeneration powers or something. Most humanoids are kinda fragile, when you really think about it. Good thing they have such strong wards here, huh," she added, trying to make the subject a little more cheerful, and kinda wishing she hadn't brought it up, but every time she started talking words just poured out faster than she could really think about them."Wait, hold on. You were bleeding to death after getting stabbed? How many times? What did he use?"
she raises an eyebrow.
"Ah. Right. Uh. So. It only takes a knife to hurt people around here. Good to know."
the starts cutting up her pancakes, eating them rather slowly. Not in a rush to do much of anything."People where you come from must be awfully tough," Lyzzie said, laughing as she shoveled more pancake into her mouth. She was already on the second plate.
"Whaff a dwagonfroo?" she asked, remembering something from before the conversation turned gruesome and serious.
Maya snaps her fingers, and a white furred monkey appears. She looks at it a moment, and it scurries off towards the line for food.
"You'll see soon enough, and, yeah. I'm kinda.., well, I'll just show you."she picks up one of the butter knives, and jams it at her arm. The butter knife bends when it hits her flesh. She shows her arm, and there's not a scratch.
"Most of those in high ranking where I'm from are rather hard to harm."
Ignace's tears finally stopped around the same time as Chara's story finished. Raelle sent Ignace to the bathroom to clean up and headed to the kitchen.
"Hey, you two. Sounds like you're having a good time in here. Since Mom is still sleeping, how about we make a batch of feel-better cookies? Chara, you should go and tell Ignace that's what we're doing."
As soon as Chara ran off, excited about cookies, Raelle hugged Ardiente. "Thanks for being here. I don't think I could have handled both of them by myself."
"People where you come from must be awfully tough," Lyzzie said, laughing as she shoveled more pancake into her mouth. She was already on the second plate.
"Whaff a dwagonfroo?" she asked, remembering something from before the conversation turned gruesome and serious.Maya snaps her fingers, and a white furred monkey appears. She looks at it a moment, and it scurries off towards the line for food.
"You'll see soon enough, and, yeah. I'm kinda.., well, I'll just show you."
she picks up one of the butter knives, and jams it at her arm. The butter knife bends when it hits her flesh. She shows her arm, and there's not a scratch.
"Most of those in high ranking where I'm from are rather hard to harm."
Lyzzie's eyes got wide. "Whoa! That is so cool!" she squealed. "You are so lucky! I bet you don't have to worry about hardly anybody trying to hurt you with skin like that. And your pet monkey was so cute. It's nice that you have a pet. I like the idea of a pet, but it's hard to take care of them, you know? And I'm not always the most responsible so maybe I'll get a pet when I'm older, but probably not a monkey."
Lyzzie's eyes got wide. "Whoa! That is so cool!" she squealed. "You are so lucky! I bet you don't have to worry about hardly anybody trying to hurt you with skin like that. And your pet monkey was so cute. It's nice that you have a pet. I like the idea of a pet, but it's hard to take care of them, you know? And I'm not always the most responsible so maybe I'll get a pet when I'm older, but probably not a monkey."
"People where you come from must be awfully tough," Lyzzie said, laughing as she shoveled more pancake into her mouth. She was already on the second plate.
"Whaff a dwagonfroo?" she asked, remembering something from before the conversation turned gruesome and serious.Maya snaps her fingers, and a white furred monkey appears. She looks at it a moment, and it scurries off towards the line for food.
"You'll see soon enough, and, yeah. I'm kinda.., well, I'll just show you."
she picks up one of the butter knives, and jams it at her arm. The butter knife bends when it hits her flesh. She shows her arm, and there's not a scratch.
"Most of those in high ranking where I'm from are rather hard to harm."
Maya smiles quite a bit at the praise.
"Not a pet, exactly. I call these from other planes of existance, to do my bidding for a short time."the monkey returns with a tray, with a couple of dragonfruits on it. She offers the tray.
"It'll Probobly taste rather bland, to you, dispite it's colorful appearance."
Maya smiles quite a bit at the praise.
"Not a pet, exactly. I call these from other planes of existance, to do my bidding for a short time."
the monkey returns with a tray, with a couple of dragonfruits on it. She offers the tray.
"It'll Probobly taste rather bland, to you, dispite it's colorful appearance."
"Oh, summoning, okay sure, I guess that makes things easier," she said, trying not to goggle over every little thing, but it was soooo hard.
She took a bite of the dragonfruit, made a face, took another bite, made a face again and put it down. "Yukky! That's just not right, that right there. Nothing should look that appetizing and taste that much like trying to eat a banana peel crossed with a watermelon rind. Those are not eating parts! Those are the bad bits that get thrown away!" she said indignantly.
"Now, I guess we just wander for a bit and see what we find. And when we're tired of looking here we can catch a tram over to Goblintown," she said with a shrug. "Ooh, makeup," she said, drawn in by one of the nearby shops which had a girl doing makeup demonstrations outside to draw in customers. "I can definitely use some of that."
Jasper nods and walks along side her, glancing around at the various shops, leaning in to check out a jewelry store. Make up was all well and good, but he could literally change things to suit him instead, so it wasn't quite worth buying.
He stays in eyeshot of her, definitely able to be seen above the crowd as they stroll through the shops, every once in a while picking something up or mimicking something to try and make her laugh.He doesn't quite find anything he settles on buying as a gift before they leave the Bazaar. He does take a moment to question whether it would be worth being arrested to spring all the animals in a pet store, but has the sense to know they were probably born in captivity and wouldn't have the skills to live outside. Not to mention this planet didn't exactly have any nature to return to.
Maya snickers, takes one from the plate, devides it in half, and starts scooping out the flesh on the inside.
"We don't have much sweet stuff where I come from. These grow on cacti, so they're really easy to get."
"Now, I guess we just wander for a bit and see what we find. And when we're tired of looking here we can catch a tram over to Goblintown," she said with a shrug. "Ooh, makeup," she said, drawn in by one of the nearby shops which had a girl doing makeup demonstrations outside to draw in customers. "I can definitely use some of that."
Jasper nods and walks along side her, glancing around at the various shops, leaning in to check out a jewelry store. Make up was all well and good, but he could literally change things to suit him instead, so it wasn't quite worth buying.
He stays in eyeshot of her, definitely able to be seen above the crowd as they stroll through the shops, every once in a while picking something up or mimicking something to try and make her laugh.
He doesn't quite find anything he settles on buying as a gift before they leave the Bazaar. He does take a moment to question whether it would be worth being arrested to spring all the animals in a pet store, but has the sense to know they were probably born in captivity and wouldn't have the skills to live outside. Not to mention this planet didn't exactly have any nature to return to.
An was fairly quickly loaded down with bags, as she stocked up on makeup, hair ornaments, and clothes, (and some incense and other crafting supplies because she couldn't help herself) but she was also not finding anything fit for a present for Dave.
She sighed. "Okay, the Bazaar has some great stuff, but I think we need to head to Goblintown. They're supposed to specialize in unique things, so I bet we won't have any trouble at all finding presents there. Ugh. So wishing I'd brought an actual bag of holding," she said, adjusting her grip on her packages as she swung them out of the reach of yet another pickpocket.
Maya snickers, takes one from the plate, devides it in half, and starts scooping out the flesh on the inside.
"We don't have much sweet stuff where I come from. These grow on cacti, so they're really easy to get."
"What's a cacti?" Lyzzie asked, making funny faces as she tried to comprehend a world without sweet stuff and failing to grasp the concept entirely.
"What's a cacti?" Lyzzie asked, making funny faces as she tried to comprehend a world without sweet stuff and failing to grasp the concept entirely.Maya snickers, takes one from the plate, devides it in half, and starts scooping out the flesh on the inside.
"We don't have much sweet stuff where I come from. These grow on cacti, so they're really easy to get."
"A cactus is a spikey plant that can grow on one rainfall every month or two. It rarely rains where i'm from, so it's a lot less... geeen."
"A cactus is a spikey plant that can grow on one rainfall every month or two. It rarely rains where i'm from, so it's a lot less... geeen.""What's a cacti?" Lyzzie asked, making funny faces as she tried to comprehend a world without sweet stuff and failing to grasp the concept entirely.Maya snickers, takes one from the plate, devides it in half, and starts scooping out the flesh on the inside.
"We don't have much sweet stuff where I come from. These grow on cacti, so they're really easy to get."
"Oh. That sounds...different. We moved around a lot before I came here, but I don't think that any of the places I lived were very dry. It's hard to even imagine living somewhere so dry. How do you get enough water to drink? Are there like wells or something? Is it really hot there? It's only hot in the summer here and it's already fall, so it's going to get colder and colder. There'll be snow in a few months. Do you have snow where you're from? I mean, I guess maybe not cause it's just like frozen rain and you said you don't get much of that, but maybe you do cause you get rain sometimes and if it gets cold enough then rain turns into snow, like, duh, Lyzzie how obvious can you be? Sorry about that, I was starting to repeat myself a little bit wasn't I?"
"We get water from the gods. Most people work to earn enough favor to get spells, and one of the easiest ones is create water. We build our towns around the few rivers and lakes that exist, as well. A lot of our food is magically created, too. Or, magically grown. We have a few settlements that try and get along without magical food and water, and they usually manage, but i can't see the appeal. As for your other questions, it's hot during the day, and cold at night. Almost never get snow, but sometimes hail. Only reason i even know what snow is is due to a conversation with gozreh about other climates. " she isn't even eating, just trying to keep up with the conversation.
"Yeah, I guess we have settled here. It was just for a little while at first, but...I like the sense of purpose that comes from working as a Healer. It's so the opposite of anything I ever expected to do, but it works. Even if it doesn't leave a lot of room for sleep."
"I don't know if Asch's sensei knows or not. But I would guess probably. They probably had regular check-ins. But no, I'm not sure. But we should tell any of the others who knew them, like Ephebe and Krays and Fei and Vai what we found out. Finding out the way we did was a nasty surprise. I wouldn't want that to happen to them."
"Then I will potentially consider getting some sleep....and by potentially consider I mean totally crash the minute this potion wears off."
"Alright. Let's finish up breakfast, then see if we can find the others."
Remembering that he wanted to check on the status of the firebirds taken prisoner last night, Fei stops in the hall and links with a wall terminal. Upon discovering they have been removed from the school's containment facilities, he makes an educated guess as to their whereabouts and changes his course for the morning.
The young monk (politely, of course) makes his way through the morning throng of the Cafeteria, heading for the outside.
He smiles back, surprised at how making her happy, in turn made himself happy. Then realized he was grinning like an idiot.
"Did I do it right this time?" he asked Ginni.
"Anyway, Jessa, how are you with crowds? I think there's bound to be a gathering somewhere on campus, like a party. It's the weekend. We could do that, or just hang out by ourselves, whatever you wish."
Jessa grins at him, ignoring her awkwardness and embarrassment, "Yeah, that was well done, Mithros." Her eyes widen a little and the verbal diarrhea begins, "Not that I am some kind of expert or anything but anyway I dunno if a crowd would be a good idea but I will give it a try as long as you are okay with leaving if it turns out to be too much not that I am expecting it will but just in case oh god I am rambling okay I will see you later I have to go now..." She picks her tray up and takes it back to the kitchen, walking with quick steps.
"Someone once told me speaking of your ancestors draws their eye."
Their patriarch says with some mirth, as he approaches them.
"How are you both, this morning?"
Alys jumps slightly, not having heard Genosuke approach. She bows smoothly and rather gracefully from her seated position, saying a few utterly unintelligible phrases. Though they have that 'too real for the real world' impact, her posture and tone leave no doubt that she just said something along the lines of 'good morning and welcome, Honored Uncle'.
Keme's expression softened. "Yeah, sure, Gramps. I'd love to go out for a run.""Yes, it is quite different from our normal ways, but, learning how other beings in the vastness of creation live can only enrich us."
He pauses, looking imperious for a second.
"Well, that should count toward my 'sanctimonious phrase' quota for today. Truthfully, I felt like heading out into the garden, and running around for a bit. I've not had much time for some old fashion fox time. 'Frolic' is such a juvenile word, but it fits the best. I came to see if you two would like to join in. I need to let loose for a bit. Perhaps some of your youthful exuberance will rub off, I could use the recharge."
As he says the last bit, he actually looks kind of haggard, well, for him.
Alys nods emphatically in agreement, a grin spreading across her face at the thought of indulging the fox within her.
"Can Lang come too? I mean, if he wants to. You did say you wanted to be friends, and I'm fairly certain that requires spending time sharing activities," she said primly, addressing Lang.Cindra smiles at the younger girl, real affection showing, "Sure, we can play outside. As long as we stay on school grounds."Phaedra's facial expressions clearly displayed her internal conflict as she tried to accept this way of thinking, but wasn't really quite getting there yet. But she didn't argue with her cousin. Which was a step in the right direction.
"Do you have any plans for today?" Phaedra asked, changing the subject. "I was trying to figure out what to do. I don't want to just sit around. It's a nice day. Maybe we can play outside?" she asked hopefully. A week of mostly being cooped up inside was definitely wearing on her.
Cindra nods in agreement, "Of course Lang can come if he wishes to do so. But perhaps you should also ask if he has any activities planned today that you might share with him. Sharing must go both ways." She winks at Phaedra to take the pedantic sting out of what she said.
"We get water from the gods. Most people work to earn enough favor to get spells, and one of the easiest ones is create water. We build our towns around the few rivers and lakes that exist, as well. A lot of our food is magically created, too. Or, magically grown. We have a few settlements that try and get along without magical food and water, and they usually manage, but i can't see the appeal. As for your other questions, it's hot during the day, and cold at night. Almost never get snow, but sometimes hail. Only reason i even know what snow is is due to a conversation with gozreh about other climates. " she isn't even eating, just trying to keep up with the conversation.
"Oh, like, divine magic and stuff? Okay. I don't really know much about gods and such," she said with a shrug. "Mom always says that just because the gods exist doesn't mean you have to go around believing in them. It only encourages them, and she says they meddle enough as it is."
"I think they must use magic to create some of the food we eat here too. I mean, they get shipments and stuff in, but there's a lot of kids with really big appetites here and I think there's no way they could have this much food and so much variety of it all the time if they weren't using magic."
Serrin, meanwhile, is too far away to notice what all is transpiring with the champions and their patrons, but she can tell they are still having 'couple time'. However, the lake is really calming, and so she sits under a tree and takes out one of her tomes on magickal theory.
It was getting crowded by the lake; though he finds the water fascinating in much the same way that most people find brightly colored snakes fascinating, it was time to go. Korren rises to his full height and moves at a leisurely pace - for him - to the door back into the school.
Moving easily twice the speed of a normal human, Korren passes somewhat near to Serrin on his way back in. He quietly murmurs, "Good morning," before heading inside.
"Alright. Let's finish up breakfast, then see if we can find the others."
"Yeah, I guess we have settled here. It was just for a little while at first, but...I like the sense of purpose that comes from working as a Healer. It's so the opposite of anything I ever expected to do, but it works. Even if it doesn't leave a lot of room for sleep."
"I don't know if Asch's sensei knows or not. But I would guess probably. They probably had regular check-ins. But no, I'm not sure. But we should tell any of the others who knew them, like Ephebe and Krays and Fei and Vai what we found out. Finding out the way we did was a nasty surprise. I wouldn't want that to happen to them."
"Then I will potentially consider getting some sleep....and by potentially consider I mean totally crash the minute this potion wears off."
Nala nodded and picked up her bento box again. "Ryuzo, are you happy here? I mean, I know you stay here for my sake, but aside from that, if you were choosing where you wanted to be and what you wanted to do, would you still choose to stay here?" she asked before shoving a large piece of sashimi in her mouth as she waited for an answer to a question she was pretty sure she should have asked months ago.
Remembering that he wanted to check on the status of the firebirds taken prisoner last night, Fei stops in the hall and links with a wall terminal. Upon discovering they have been removed from the school's containment facilities, he makes an educated guess as to their whereabouts and changes his course for the morning.
The young monk (politely, of course) makes his way through the morning throng of the Cafeteria, heading for the outside.
"Hey," he said, just coming in from outside, surprised to run into Fei outside of the training facility. "Not often I see you at the actual school building," he said with a grin.
Cindra nods in agreement, "Of course Lang can come if he wishes to do so. But perhaps you should also ask if he has any activities planned today that you might share with him. Sharing must go both ways." She winks at Phaedra to take the pedantic sting out of what she said."Can Lang come too? I mean, if he wants to. You did say you wanted to be friends, and I'm fairly certain that requires spending time sharing activities," she said primly, addressing Lang.Cindra smiles at the younger girl, real affection showing, "Sure, we can play outside. As long as we stay on school grounds."Phaedra's facial expressions clearly displayed her internal conflict as she tried to accept this way of thinking, but wasn't really quite getting there yet. But she didn't argue with her cousin. Which was a step in the right direction.
"Do you have any plans for today?" Phaedra asked, changing the subject. "I was trying to figure out what to do. I don't want to just sit around. It's a nice day. Maybe we can play outside?" she asked hopefully. A week of mostly being cooped up inside was definitely wearing on her.
Phaedra's face twisted in a grimace and she gripped her hands tightly in her lap. She didn't like being corrected on her etiquette, but it was a familiar experience. "I apologize, Lang. I should have asked you your plans first. Do you have anything planned for today?" she asked stiffly.
"We get water from the gods. Most people work to earn enough favor to get spells, and one of the easiest ones is create water. We build our towns around the few rivers and lakes that exist, as well. A lot of our food is magically created, too. Or, magically grown. We have a few settlements that try and get along without magical food and water, and they usually manage, but i can't see the appeal. As for your other questions, it's hot during the day, and cold at night. Almost never get snow, but sometimes hail. Only reason i even know what snow is is due to a conversation with gozreh about other climates. " she isn't even eating, just trying to keep up with the conversation."Oh, like, divine magic and stuff? Okay. I don't really know much about gods and such," she said with a shrug. "Mom always says that just because the gods exist doesn't mean you have to go around believing in them. It only encourages them, and she says they meddle enough as it is."
"I think they must use magic to create some of the food we eat here too. I mean, they get shipments and stuff in, but there's a lot of kids with really big appetites here and I think there's no way they could have this much food and so much variety of it all the time if they weren't using magic."
"... not beliving in something you know exists makes no sense. Regardless, devine magic is important to us as a civilization. Our entire culture is based around placating the gods. Dealing with them on a regular basis is my job."
"... not beliving in something you know exists makes no sense. Regardless, devine magic is important to us as a civilization. Our entire culture is based around placating the gods. Dealing with them on a regular basis is my job.""We get water from the gods. Most people work to earn enough favor to get spells, and one of the easiest ones is create water. We build our towns around the few rivers and lakes that exist, as well. A lot of our food is magically created, too. Or, magically grown. We have a few settlements that try and get along without magical food and water, and they usually manage, but i can't see the appeal. As for your other questions, it's hot during the day, and cold at night. Almost never get snow, but sometimes hail. Only reason i even know what snow is is due to a conversation with gozreh about other climates. " she isn't even eating, just trying to keep up with the conversation."Oh, like, divine magic and stuff? Okay. I don't really know much about gods and such," she said with a shrug. "Mom always says that just because the gods exist doesn't mean you have to go around believing in them. It only encourages them, and she says they meddle enough as it is."
"I think they must use magic to create some of the food we eat here too. I mean, they get shipments and stuff in, but there's a lot of kids with really big appetites here and I think there's no way they could have this much food and so much variety of it all the time if they weren't using magic."
"I think that kinda makes my mom's point more valid, rather than less. And there's a big difference between knowing something exists and believing in it. Gravity exists, but I'm not gonna say prayers to it. That would be silly," she said with a giggle. "Anyhow, you believe however you want and I'll believe or not how I want. It's all good." She went to take another bite of pancake, but realized sadly that they were all gone. "Well, except for that. That's not good. Lack of pancakes is sad. I'm gonna go get seconds!"
"I think that kinda makes my mom's point more valid, rather than less. And there's a big difference between knowing something exists and believing in it. Gravity exists, but I'm not gonna say prayers to it. That would be silly," she said with a giggle. "Anyhow, you believe however you want and I'll believe or not how I want. It's all good." She went to take another bite of pancake, but realized sadly that they were..."... not beliving in something you know exists makes no sense. Regardless, devine magic is important to us as a civilization. Our entire culture is based around placating the gods. Dealing with them on a regular basis is my job.""We get water from the gods. Most people work to earn enough favor to get spells, and one of the easiest ones is create water. We build our towns around the few rivers and lakes that exist, as well. A lot of our food is magically created, too. Or, magically grown. We have a few settlements that try and get along without magical food and water, and they usually manage, but i can't see the appeal. As for your other questions, it's hot during the day, and cold at night. Almost never get snow, but sometimes hail. Only reason i even know what snow is is due to a conversation with gozreh about other climates. " she isn't even eating, just trying to keep up with the conversation."Oh, like, divine magic and stuff? Okay. I don't really know much about gods and such," she said with a shrug. "Mom always says that just because the gods exist doesn't mean you have to go around believing in them. It only encourages them, and she says they meddle enough as it is."
"I think they must use magic to create some of the food we eat here too. I mean, they get shipments and stuff in, but there's a lot of kids with really big appetites here and I think there's no way they could have this much food and so much variety of it all the time if they weren't using magic."
Maya looks at her a little funny, and just stays put. eating some more of her own food. Mainly the dragonfruit, a the other foods far too rich for her.
"Hey," he said, just coming in from outside, surprised to run into Fei outside of the training facility. "Not often I see you at the actual school building," he said with a grin.
"Good Morning, Jeran," Fei replies with a glad smile and a bow as he runs into his friend. "I know - it does seem like I am barely here anymore. Things have changed...rather quickly, it seems," he adds, his tone more serious for a moment. The young monk catches himself, shakes his head and returns to better news.
"To your point: I was checking up on some help I sent to the Infirmary last night. I decided that if I could not be at the Infirmary as much as I used to be, then I had to find others who could. And I found enough help to actually man the clinic in Kuros as well." (^-^)
"Where is your young charge? She is usually not far from your side," the young monk asks curiously, looking around for Cho. "I presume all is well, as you are in good spirits this morning?"
An was fairly quickly loaded down with bags, as she stocked up on makeup, hair ornaments, and clothes, (and some incense and other crafting supplies because she couldn't help herself) but she was also not finding anything fit for a present for Dave.
She sighed. "Okay, the Bazaar has some great stuff, but I think we need to head to Goblintown. They're supposed to specialize in unique things, so I bet we won't have any trouble at all finding presents there. Ugh. So wishing I'd brought an actual bag of holding," she said, adjusting her grip on her packages as she swung them out of the reach of yet another pickpocket.
Jasper doesn't keep anything in his pockets, knowing better in such a crowded place. After the first few attempts he conjures what looks like a coin purse, but is actually a bright orange bursting dye pack that he hangs from his belt. They can have a nice laugh about that when a purse cutter snatches it followed by a litany of creative swear words from an alley behind them.
Very suddenly after the last thing Andromeda says, Jasper folds both sets of arms right over left and nods his head once with a clap of thunder echoing. The bags Andromeda is holding are replaced with one smaller one, a stereotypical and classic adventurer's Bag of Holding as if she'd been carrying it the whole time."It is granted." he states in an authoritative voice with a kind of gravitas the normal chilled Jasper wouldn't usually go to the trouble of using.
He shakes his head and blinks a little like someone coming out of a trance?
"Huh? What?" He glances down, finding Andromeda's new portage situation. "Oh, f#&*, sorry. Reflexes. But, uh, don't worry about it. Honest mistakes." He shrugs.
An was fairly quickly loaded down with bags, as she stocked up on makeup, hair ornaments, and clothes, (and some incense and other crafting supplies because she couldn't help herself) but she was also not finding anything fit for a present for Dave.
She sighed. "Okay, the Bazaar has some great stuff, but I think we need to head to Goblintown. They're supposed to specialize in unique things, so I bet we won't have any trouble at all finding presents there. Ugh. So wishing I'd brought an actual bag of holding," she said, adjusting her grip on her packages as she swung them out of the reach of yet another pickpocket.Jasper doesn't keep anything in his pockets, knowing better in such a crowded place. After the first few attempts he conjures what looks like a coin purse, but is actually a bright orange bursting dye pack that he hangs from his belt. They can have a nice laugh about that when a purse cutter snatches it followed by a litany of creative swear words from an alley behind them.
Very suddenly after the last thing Andromeda says, Jasper folds both sets of arms right over left and nods his head once with a clap of thunder echoing. The bags Andromeda is holding are replaced with one smaller one, a stereotypical and classic adventurer's Bag of Holding as if she'd been carrying it the whole time.
"It is granted." he states in an authoritative voice with a kind of gravitas the normal chilled Jasper wouldn't usually go to the trouble of using.
He shakes his head and blinks a little like someone coming out of a trance?
"Huh? What?" He glances down, finding Andromeda's new portage situation. "Oh, f#&*, sorry. Reflexes. But, uh, don't worry about it. Honest mistakes." He shrugs.
Andromeda's face fell, her expression genuinely horrified. "Jasper, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I didn't even think...I was trying to be so careful and then I just forgot for a second...I'm so, so, so sorry," she said, tears coming to her eyes. "We were having such a nice time and then...I'm such a screw-up. You're my friend, and I never, ever meant to take advantage. It was just supposed to be a figure of speech. I'm so sorry, I'm such an idiot," she babbled before the tears were too much and she had to stop talking to wipe them off her face and search through her pockets for a tissue. She never remembered to bring tissues.
"Hey," he said, just coming in from outside, surprised to run into Fei outside of the training facility. "Not often I see you at the actual school building," he said with a grin."Good Morning, Jeran," Fei replies with a glad smile and a bow as he runs into his friend. "I know - it does seem like I am barely here anymore. Things have changed...rather quickly, it seems," he adds, his tone more serious for a moment. The young monk catches himself, shakes his head and returns to better news.
"To your point: I was checking up on some help I sent to the Infirmary last night. I decided that if I could not be at the Infirmary as much as I used to be, then I had to find others who could. And I found enough help to actually man the clinic in Kuros as well." (^-^)
"Where is your young charge? She is usually not far from your side," the young monk asks curiously, looking around for Cho. "I presume all is well, as you are in good spirits this morning?"
"Turns out the whole cosmic contest thing was a giant scam. I guess the angels and demons that got caught up in it are in a whole lot of trouble now. And nobody is trying to sacrifice Cho now, thank goodness. She's with a family in town. I just got back from taking her there. They seem like a really nice couple. They lost their child during the virus outbreak, and they wanted to do something positive with their lives to give them something besides grief to focus on. With their help and regular treatments at the clinic, they think that eventually Cho can learn to have some measure of independence, although her mental processes will never be totally normal. So, I'd say that things pretty much worked out in the end. And I can't say that I'm sorry to be done babysitting her. Trying to take care of someone with an adult body and the mind of a small child is definitely not in my wheelhouse. But I'm glad I did what I needed to to protect her," he said with a shrug.
"That's great that you were able to find people who could help out at the clinic and the infirmary. With as many disasters as we seem to have around here, gods know we can use all the help we can get."
Nala nodded and picked up her bento box again. "Ryuzo, are you happy here? I mean, I know you stay here for my sake, but aside from that, if you were choosing where you wanted to be and what you wanted to do, would you still choose to stay here?" she asked before shoving a large piece of sashimi in her mouth as she waited for an answer to a question she was pretty sure she should have asked months ago.
He stops mid bite, shoots her a quizzical look, then finishes his bite.
"Why do you ask?"
Nala nodded and picked up her bento box again. "Ryuzo, are you happy here? I mean, I know you stay here for my sake, but aside from that, if you were choosing where you wanted to be and what you wanted to do, would you still choose to stay here?" she asked before shoving a large piece of sashimi in her mouth as she waited for an answer to a question she was pretty sure she should have asked months ago.He stops mid bite, shoots her a quizzical look, then finishes his bite.
"Why do you ask?"
She gave him an exasperated look. "Because I want to know. Because I love you, and I want to make sure I'm not accidentally ignoring what's important to you. I know I have a lot of issues, and sometimes I can get a little distracted by that. Maybe a tad self-absorbed. So I'm asking. Because I want to make sure I'm not just assuming I know what you want."
Maya looks at her a little funny, and just stays put. eating some more of her own food. Mainly the dragonfruit, a the other foods far too rich for her.
Lyzzie piled a second tray with plates of large stacks of pancakes covered in layers of dessert toppings, and grabs two large bottles of milk, this time in a sickly pink color, and head back to the table. "They had pink milk!" she said, excited. "It's my favorite! It's really just regular milk with strawberry flavoring added, but I think it's the absolute best! Er...it might be a little too sweet for you since you're not super into the whole sugar thing," she said, still failing to understand the concept, but trying to be considerate anyways.
She gave him an exasperated look. "Because I want to know. Because I love you, and I want to make sure I'm not accidentally ignoring what's important to you. I know I have a lot of issues, and sometimes I can get a little distracted by that. Maybe a tad self-absorbed. So I'm asking. Because I want to make sure I'm not just assuming I know what you want."
"Gomen. I did not mean to irritate you. It just seemed like a question full of other questions, so I wanted to understand where you were coming from before answering based on a false assumption on my part."
He takes a sec, then says:"With all of the things going on in my life right now, with instructing at Avalon, obligations to my clan, and being a Champion, I'm content to remain here. For now.
With you, though, things are different. I'm in love with you, all of you. All of your parts and pieces that you may have insecurities about, or may not like about yourself, I love all of you. I choose to be with you, I choose to see you through all of this to the end, and beyond, happily. Of all that is going on in my life, you are the one part of it I freely chose, and have no regrets about. You bring me joy, and I know in my heart that you truly love me. Wherever you are, is where I want to be."
She gave him an exasperated look. "Because I want to know. Because I love you, and I want to make sure I'm not accidentally ignoring what's important to you. I know I have a lot of issues, and sometimes I can get a little distracted by that. Maybe a tad self-absorbed. So I'm asking. Because I want to make sure I'm not just assuming I know what you want.""Gomen. I did not mean to irritate you. It just seemed like a question full of other questions, so I wanted to understand where you were coming from before answering based on a false assumption on my part."
He takes a sec, then says:
"With all of the things going on in my life right now, with instructing at Avalon, obligations to my clan, and being a Champion, I'm content to remain here. For now.
With you, though, things are different. I'm in love with you, all of you. All of your parts and pieces that you may have insecurities about, or may not like about yourself, I love all of you. I choose to be with you, I choose to see you through all of this to the end, and beyond, happily. Of all that is going on in my life, you are the one part of it I freely chose, and have no regrets about. You bring me joy, and I know in my heart that you truly love me. Wherever you are, is where I want to be."
Her expression softened and she reached out and took his hand. "I didn't know what love even was before I met you. I do love you, truly. I just have no idea what I'm doing and not much in the way of examples to follow. When you tell me how you feel about me...I'm overwhelmed. It's a good kind of overwhelmed, but I don't even know what to do with these feelings that are just too big. I just...I need you to know that what you want is important to me. You're important to me."
"And on that note, I almost forgot to tell you, Fortunata gave her blessing on the 'medical procedure' to fix my memories. No promises that things between her and I would continue as is, but she's not the sort to make promises. That part of the conversation with her was what got me started on thinking about the future in the first place." She squeezed his hand. "Because I know that I want my future to include you, and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't forgetting to consult you about what it might look like."
Maya looks at her a little funny, and just stays put. eating some more of her own food. Mainly the dragonfruit, a the other foods far too rich for her.Lyzzie piled a second tray with plates of large stacks of pancakes covered in layers of dessert toppings, and grabs two large bottles of milk, this time in a sickly pink color, and head back to the table. "They had pink milk!" she said, excited. "It's my favorite! It's really just regular milk with strawberry flavoring added, but I think it's the absolute best! Er...it might be a little too sweet for you since you're not super into the whole sugar thing," she said, still failing to understand the concept, but trying to be considerate anyways.
"Probobly a bit much, yeah. I'm sure iv'e aquired a vastly different set of tastes then you."
Ignace's tears finally stopped around the same time as Chara's story finished. Raelle sent Ignace to the bathroom to clean up and headed to the kitchen.
"Hey, you two. Sounds like you're having a good time in here. Since Mom is still sleeping, how about we make a batch of feel-better cookies? Chara, you should go and tell Ignace that's what we're doing."
As soon as Chara ran off, excited about cookies, Raelle hugged Ardiente. "Thanks for being here. I don't think I could have handled both of them by myself."
He hugs her back "You're quite welcome, though to be honest, there's few other places I would rather be than with you and your family."
He lets that sink in for a few moments, then says "So, baking cookies. I don't think I've ever taken part in such an activity."
After devouring his meal, Djalos makes a quick stop to his room before heading back to the library. He stays behind the curtain that separates him and his roommate's portions of the room for a few minutes, then comes out and immediately heads back to the library.
Upon reaching Sadie, Djalos sits down and begins reading with her and Dara. He then abruptly asks, "So, what do you do for fun? I am rather curious, since I have no such activities or proclivities myself."
Her expression softened and she reached out and took his hand. "I didn't know what love even was before I met you. I do love you, truly. I just have no idea what I'm doing and not much in the way of examples to follow. When you tell me how you feel about me...I'm overwhelmed. It's a good kind of overwhelmed, but I don't even know what to do with these feelings that are just too big. I just...I need you to know that what you want is important to me. You're important to me."
"And on that note, I almost forgot to tell you, Fortunata gave her blessing on the 'medical procedure' to fix my memories. No promises that things between her and I would continue as is, but she's not the sort...
He squeezes her had back, and smiles.
"I have to admit, I'm not the best at this either. The men and women of my village were so stoic. They didn't show a lot of emotion or affection in public, but they were always there, with each other, through everything. The couple of times anyone was foolish enough to assault our clan, men and women, partners, fought together side by side to face whatever came. Moles and earthbenders, the fury of claw and stone was terrible to behold, but, they all fought side by side.So, while I support you, and am always there for you like I've learned to be, I could be more vocal about my feelings as well. Stoicism isn't the best in all things apparently."
He nods.
"Taking a gamble seemed to be right up her alley. I am glad she approved, none-the-less. How do you think this will change you? You mean you may no longer be Luck's champion?"
Grim is about to make a childish retort at him seemingly being ignored when the winged man starts talking to him "oh um cool. I'm Grim Jr. Most people call me Grim around here, but some call me Jr."
"Are you also students of Avalon?"